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Deformed streams reveal growth and linkage of a normal fault array in the Canyonlands graben, Utah

¹ Department of Earth Sciences & Engineering, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BP, UK
² Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, P.O. Box 914, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK

We use the deformation of streams by the growth of active normal faults within the Canyonlands graben of southeastern Utah to constrain the displacement evolution of a fault array during segment interaction and linkage. Coupling fault displacement data with geomorphic analysis of present-day streams and paleostreams permits sequential reconstruction of a three-segment fault array from initial component segments to its final displacement geometry. Our results show that although segment interaction causes enhanced displacement addition at overlap zones, postlinkage displacement accumulation is significant and permits array equilibration to a displacement-length ratio characteristic of a single fault. Evidence of stream disequilibrium indicates that this postlinkage displacement addition was rapid compared to that during the fault interaction phase.

Key Words: extensional fault • Canyonlands • fault linkage • relay ramp • stream network analysis